Robots

Exhilarator 2.0

Designed as a step forward from the original build, Exhilarator 2.0 focused on improving strength, drive performance and overall reliability. The chassis and armour were reworked using 10mm HDPE, providing far better impact resistance compared to the previous aluminium base and 5mm HDPE, allowing for a more forgiving structure under heavy hits.

The drivetrain was upgraded with quicker motors, giving the robot noticeably better speed and pushing power. This made it far more capable in engagements, allowing for faster positioning and more aggressive driving compared to the first version.

The weapon system remained the same FingerTech egg beater, as it had proven to be a reliable and effective design. Retaining this setup allowed me to focus on improving the surrounding systems rather than redesigning the weapon from scratch.

However, the move to a heavier and more robust chassis came with trade-offs. Due to weight limitations, I wasn’t able to incorporate front forks, which significantly impacted control during engagements. This made it harder to get underneath opponents and properly utilise the weapon, ultimately becoming one of the robot’s main weaknesses in competition.

Despite this limitation, Exhilarator 2.0 represented a clear progression, offering improved durability, better drive performance and a stronger overall presence in the arena, while continuing to build on the lessons learned from the original design.